What Am I?

When someone ask you about your faith what do you tell them? I’m a Christian, is the typical answer. If they say, what kind of church do you go to, how do you respond? Baptist, Catholic, Protestant, Pentacostal, etc.

Why did we ever allow ourselves to be labeled with a term Jesus never did? We have put on the coat of denominations and segregated ourselves in the church. Jesus never told us to do that. You cannot find in the scriptures one place where Jesus said to label yourself anything other than a child of Yahweh, a bride, or lover. Even non-denomination has become a denomination. If our pursuit is to look like Jesus and display His glory on the earth like He instructed, then we must lose the titles and labels given by men and become who Jesus says we are.

Pastor Tim shared with us what he tells people when they ask about his faith and who we are at The Wilderness Place. He tells people he is a lover of Jesus. If you are around him for any length of time you will know this to be true. It is one thing to proclaim your belief but another to display it. Jesus did not just proclaim, “the Kingdom is here now" He displayed it. We must stop labeling ourselves with “groups of people” and display Jesus to the world around us. It is what is needed and what He deserves! It is what Jesus gave His life for.

What does it look like to be a lover of Jesus? It is a lifestyle of learning about Him. Every day paying attention to His voice, eyes and studying His written word. Remember you become what you behold. If you are married or in a relationship, think about how you treat your partner compared to your relationship with Jesus. For example, if you spend and give the same time and attention to your partner as you do to Jesus, how would that affect your relationship?

Being a lover of Jesus consumes your thoughts about Him. What does he like? How does this make him feel? What makes him happy? What moves his heart? This is our cry as His lovers. Being His lover isn’t just when I am in the church building on a Sunday morning or during my ten-minute devotion time every day or so. It is moments throughout my day thinking about Him, talking to Him, asking Him questions.

As lovers there must be a clear-cut difference to the world around us than what they’ve seen from denominations.

Ask yourself today this question. “What Am I?” Be honest with yourself, because He already knows. Just like Pastor Tim said yesterday when you are honest Abba shows up to help and have a conversation.

Psalm 84 is the heart cry of a Lover of Jesus:

God of Heaven’s Armies, you find so much beauty in your people! They’re like lovely sanctuaries of your presence. Deep within me are these lovesick longings, desires and daydreams of living in union with you. When I’m near you, my heart and my soul will sing and worship with my joyful songs of you, my true source and spring of life! O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God, even the sparrows and swallows are welcome to build a nest among your altars to raise their young. What pleasure fills those who live every day in your temple, enjoying you as they worship in your presence!

How enriched are they who find their strength in the Lord; within their hearts are the highways of holiness! Even when their paths wind through the dark valley of tears they dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others find only pain. He gives to them a brook of blessing filled from the rain of an outpouring. They grow stronger and stronger with every step forward, and the God of all gods will appear before them in Zion. Hear my cry, O God of Heaven’s Armies! God of Jacob, listen to my loving prayer.

God, your wraparound presence is our defense. In your kindness look upon the faces of your anointed ones. For just one day of intimacy with you is like a thousand days of joy rolled into one! I’d rather stand at the threshold in front of the Gate Beautiful, ready to go in and worship my God, than to live my life without you in the most beautiful palace of the wicked. For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all! O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what euphoria fills those who forever trust in you!